Withdrawal in Pine-Richland School Director Region 1 race leaves it virtually uncontested
Share this post:
Editor’s note: The Pine Creek Journal is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election.
Pine-Richland School District residents in Region 1 will see two options, according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list — Ben Campbell and Lisa Hillman, both cross-filed as Democrat and Republican — on the May primary ballot but one of the nominees said he has withdrawn from the race.
Campbell said he is no longer running for the one available school board position but that it was too late for the Allegheny County Elections Department to remove his name from the ballot.
Ben Campbell
“I have withdrawn from the race for personal reasons,” Campbell said. “It’s too late to remove my name from the primary ballot, but I have ended my campaign and will remove myself from the November ballot if I should win either primary.”
Lisa Hillman
Q Why did you decide to run for election?
“I am running for school director to restore common sense leadership to the Pine-Richland School Board,” Hillman said. “As a parent of two kids currently attending PR schools, I have seen first-hand how the decisions of the school board have negatively impacted our kids mentally, emotionally and even physically.
“I am running with a team of concerned parents, from various fields of expertise, who want better for our children and our community,” Hillman said.
“We will be ready on Day One to work together and make decisions that put our kids first.”
Q What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed?
“Pine-Richland needs school directors who will put the health and well-being of our kids first,” Hillman said. “While the pandemic is new territory for all to navigate, our kids need to remain our top priority. Our kids have fallen behind academically and socially, and the school board has the ultimate responsibility to protect the mental health and academic success of our kids.”
Q What should voters know about you?
“I have lived in the Pine-Richland School District for nine years and have supported our students, teachers and schools throughout my time here,” Hillman said. “Both of my kids are currently students in the district and have been actively participating in school sports and extracurricular activities.
“As a parent and a community member, I am a stakeholder in the success of our schools and will make the work of the board my top priority. As a professional, I will bring public policy expertise, objective and pragmatic decision-making and transparency to the school board.”
“My prior experience as an advisor to the Utah Governor, Coordinator for Utah State Data Center, Liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as my work in the Ohio House of Representatives assisting with policy research and legislation, has prepared me for the school director position,” Hillman said. “I look forward to being the new face of leadership on the Pine-Richland School Board.”